Jamie Carragher says Alberto Moreno must improve

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has told Sky Sports that it is imperative for left-back Alberto Moreno to buck up his ideas this season.

The Spanish defender came under intense scrutiny toward the end of the season after enduring something of a horror show in Liverpool's Europa League final defeat by Sevilla in May.

As a result, pressure fell on manager Jurgen Klopp to either sell him or push him down the pecking order by signing a better left-back but, with less than a month to go in the transfer window, the German manager has done neither.

It certainly seems as if Moreno might be the man to start at left-back in Liverpool's Premier League opener at Arsenal next week, and Carragher, who won two FA Cups and a Champions League title with the Reds, is hoping to see a big improvement from the 24-year-old.

"I’ve been critical of Alberto Moreno but hopefully he’ll improve as he’s obviously older a little bit more mature, working with Jurgen Klopp he will improve but it certainly the one area Liverpool need to improve," he said to Sky Sports.

Liverpool, who released Jose Enrique this summer, still have Joe Gomez as a back-up option, but if Klopp has designs on the Premier League title then neither option inspires much confidence.

Gomez may have a very decent Liverpool career in front of him, but the truth is that it is in front of him. He is one for the future - not the present - and Liverpool fans might be unforgiving toward the popular Klopp if frailties at left-back cost them again.

Shane Callaghan

Shane is a Dublin-based sports writer who swapped the football pitch for the press box upon learning that he was better with a pen than with a round bit of leather. Prior to joining HITC, Shane enjoyed spells with Sports Mole and Goal.com among others, while he was also club reporter for Irish football club Drogheda United.